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《去污:檳城夜香工友勞動記錄》

一段支撐起大半個世紀城市發展建設的重要歷史,一群用血汗、勞力和無法告人的艱辛奠基城市公共衛生的人們,一段在當時無法言說,如今也只想遺忘的過去。

無意觸犯不想被攤開的往事和隱蔽,《去污:檳城夜香工友勞動記錄》紀錄片計劃只想忠實展現不被重視的城市歷史,以及勞動工友們曾走過的歲月足跡。

 

此紀錄片和研究計劃將以市政局提供給夜香工人的宿舍“潮興公司”因發展而拆除作為緣起,通過對最後一批工友和其後代的訪問、文物記錄、宗教祭祀記錄等等方式,爬梳人工糞穢處理系統在喬治市的城市構建歷史中的文化意義和重要性,並向夜香工友們為公共排污系統所付出的血汗與貢獻致敬。

“去污”計畫簡介
PURGE Intro

Purge: Documenting the Labours of Penang’s Night Soil Workers


The story of how a group of dedicated and hardworking labourers contributed to the building of a city sewage system for nearly half a century. This is a part of history that people failed to speak about in the past, and had intended to forget in the present. Yet the blood, sweat, and unspeakable hardships of this group of people known as the night soil workers were poured into the very foundation of sanitation and urban development in the city. While respecting their wishes to protect their identities, this documentary, Purge: Documenting the Labours of Penang’s Night Soil Workers, aims to honour their past by unfolding the otherwise forgotten efforts of these labourers, and by following the trails and trials they once walked.

The study conducted at Teoh Heng Kongsi began when construction was authorised to be carried out on the site of the hostel that the city council had originally set aside for the night soil workers. It then developed into a documentary to unearth the crucial role and cultural significance of the manual night soil system. The hope is that the interviews with the workers, their descendants, and the residents they served, as well as whatever historical relics, religious ceremonial records and related material that could be found, would all pay due respect to the night soil workers’ efforts and contribution to Penang’s public sanitation system.

計劃時間軸

 

2013年

州政府鑑定位於齊來亞路的倒糞工人宿舍——潮興公司所在處的土地, 將發展可負擔房屋計劃,潮興公司預計將被拆除

 

2014年8月

拍攝並記錄潮興公司最後一次祭祀供奉在內的大伯公,並訪問相關人員

 

2014年9月

動員研究人員、攝影師、插畫師等記錄和拓印宿舍內的相關文物,製作清單和目錄,並協助修復其中一項重要文物

 

2015年9月

新的建築大伯公廟開幕晚宴,移交修復好的支持華教文物給相關人員

 

2015年11月

拍攝並記錄潮興公司宿舍被拆除的過程

 

2016年

持續追踪記錄相關人員動向、進行訪問

Project Timeline
 

2013

Penang State Government announced affordable housing development projects in Jalan SP Chelliah, where 'Teoh Heng Kongsi'(Night Soils Worker's Hostel) had been located. The hostel would be demolished to make way for the development project.

August 2014

Voluntary documentation of the last prayer ceremony held at the Night Soil Workers’ Hostel included video and photo coverage of the ceremony as well as audio interviews

September 2014

A team of researcher, photographer, illustrators, etc. was mobilised to make records of relevant artefacts found in the hostel, produce lists and catalogues, and assist in the restoration of one of the important cultural relics.

September2015

The restored relic was awarded to the members of the Teoh Heng Kongsi at the opening ceremony of the new 'Tua Pek Gong' temple.

November 2015

Video and photo documentation of the hostel being demolished.


2016

Follow up interviews with various members of the ‘Teoh Heng Kongsi’.

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